Electrolytic apparatus.



C. H. THOMSON.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1917.

1,265,551 Patented May 7, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. H. THOMSON.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-7,1917.

1,Q65,55 1 Patented May 7, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

avwcmtoz C. H. THOMSON.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 19H.

1 ,265 5 1 Patented May 7, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I; 07 I 2 5 C8 C. H. THOMSON.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. l9l7.

L265,551. Patented May7, 1918.

4 SHEETS SHEET 4.

I @muentoz 329% A/A/c'J mum and other metals from canton.

. ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May "2, 19118.

Application filed April 7, 1917. Serial No. 160,469.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HARRISON. THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maryville, in the county of Blount and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrolytic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to the class of apparatus employed for the separation ofalumiores by electrolytic action in a fused bath.

The object of my improvement is to provide improved conductors for carrying the electric current which acts upon the fused bath in the pots or similar receptacles arranged in series. The improvement seeks to provide an arrangement of conductors which will require a smaller quantity of metal than has heretofore been used for the same operation, and to permit conveniently shunting or cutting any one of the pots out of circuit withoutdisturbing the electrical connection with the other pots, so that without suspending the general operation, any pot may be emptied and adjusted or repaired or entirely removed and a new pot substituted.

The fact that this apparatus is operated under high voltage makes it necessary to provide an apparatus which is safe when all the pots are on the electric circuit, and which will provide means for reliably and con- Veniently shunting or short-circuiting for the effectual isolation of any one of the series of pots'and permits all the pots to continue in the operation with no interval of interruption. v

Figure 1 is a rear end elevation showing two fused bath pots and conductors by which current is carried to said pots, the hanger plates of the electrode frames being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of said pots, looking toward the right as shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the pot shown by Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line,-4L4, of Fig. 1, looking toward the right.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line, 5-5, of Fig. 1

Fig. 6 is an upright section on the line, 66, of Fig. 1, looking toward the right;

Fig. 7 is an upright section on the line, 7-7, of Fig. 1, looking toward the right;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line,

88, of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of one of the electrode frames; 7

Fig. 10 is a section on the line, 10l0, of Fig. 9, looking toward the right;

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the application of insulation.

Referrin to said drawings, A, A, are pots of or inary or any desired form. As many such pots as can conveniently be operated in series upon one circuit are arranged adjacent each other in position to permit connection from any of the pots to the next pot in the series.

Each pot hasa floor, A two side walls, A a rear end Wall, A and a front end wall, Said walls are of metal and constitute a part of the electric current conducting means when the pot is in operation. Each of the side walls, A projects rearward beyond the end walls, A a distance equaling approximately the width of the conductor plates which lead from one pot to the other. In practice, this width may be about ten inches. To each side face of said extension of the walls, A is applied flatwise a flexible conductor member, A about as wide as said extension and composed of thin sheets or laminae of copper lying flatwise against each other and soldered to each other at their ends so as to permit the handling of said group of laminae as a single bar or plate. Bolts, A extend horizontally through the members, A and through the wall, A which is between said members. The function of said bolts is to clamp said members,

' A closely to said wall extension in orderto establish extended electric contact between said members and said plate.

Above each pot are four electrode supporting bars, B, set horizontally and in upright planes and having their ends supported in hangers, B which are suspended from a stationary support (not shown) by links, B Said hangers must be insulated from the circuit.

The bars, B, support electrodes, B extending downward into the pot and having stems, B

extending upward and lying.

against one of the side faces of one of the bars, B, and secured to said bar by a clamp, 13, extending around said bar and said stem. Any desired number of these electrodes may be used. They extend into the bath in the pot, and the pot constitutes a companion electrode. From each pot metallic conducting members extend to the electrode supporting bars of the next pot.

From the right hand or forward pair of flexible conductor members, A, a metal conductor plate, C, extends forward to the for- 1 ward electrode supporting bar, B, of the next pot, the forwardportion of said plate being bent upward and applied flatwise against said bar and secured in such position by proper means, as by means of a 1 clamp consisting of-flat plates, 6, and bolts,

C The opposite end of said plate, C, extends between the ends of the right-hand flexible conductor members, A said mem bers being bent toward the right into the approximately horizontal position. Said ends of the flexible members and the adj acent end of the plate, C, are secured to each other, as will be described further on. Three conductor plates, C similar to the plate, C,

- the plates, G 4

upper face of the uppermost conductor plate,

lie flatwise upon each other and have their left hand ends resting between the left hand pair of flexible conductor members, A. A clamping bar, C is placed above and'another below said ends of the flexible members, A, and bolts, C extend transversely through said clamp bars and draw said bars toward each other, whereby intimate contact is made between the flexible members and Under this arrangement, the members, A and the conductor plates, C of the left 'handpot extend rightward above the upper end of the left hand member of the right hand pair of flexible member, A.

A clamp bar, 0, is placed against the lower face of the right hand end of said two flexible members, and a companion clamp bar, C, extends horizontally across the described relative to the conductor plate and secured to the nextelectrode supporting bar,

the right hand electrode supporting bar, B. The next lower conductor plate, 0 is extend-' ed upward and similarly applied against and B. The lowermost of the three conductor plates, C extends still farther toward the right and then upward and is similarly applied and secured to the next or third electrode supporting bar.

-Thus allthe current coming from one pot passes along the laminated flexible conductor members, A, to the conductor plates, C and I C, and then along the afterward return it or another pot and such conductivity and such extended contact latter to the supporting bars, B, and then along the latter to and down the electrode stems, B and electrodes, B?, into the bath, then through the bath and through the walls of the pot into the laminated flexible members, A*',- of that pot.

The laminated flexible conductor members are provided to permit raising the rear end of the pot to permit the flow of a portion of the bath from a tap hole in the front wall, A, in the usual manner, without interfering with the conductivity of the elec-- tric circuit, the portions of said flexible members above the pot bending or folding while the adjacent end of the pot moves upward.

When the bath has been drained to the desired extent, the raised end of the pot is again lowered into its normal position.

Thus the operation is carried on indefinitelyv until such time as it becomes desirable to entirely suspend operation in one pot and adjust or repair the same, while in position, or to entirely remove said pot and then restore the circuit connections. In such a casesaid pbt must be substantially isolated from the circuit without disturbing'the continuity of thecircuit or its connection with other pots of theseries.

When such isolation is to be effected, shunting or short-circuit filling is placed between the upper -conductor plate, C of that pot and the lower face of the conductor plate, C,zwhich is above said group of plates, C and belongs to the last preceding pot of the series. 'Inview of the high voltage of the current used in such operations, it is important that said shunting or short-circuit filling have such cross-sectional area and with the adjacent plates, C and C, as will permit the passage of current so freely that there is substantially no passage of current 1 through the supporting bars, B, the electrode stems, B, and the electrodes, B it being remembered that said bars and stems and electrodes'must remain in'position and carry the current until the short-circuit filling has been put into place and secu ed. Afterthis latter has been done, the e ectrodes may be removed, one-by-one, if so desired.

The short-circuit filling may be in any one of a variety of forms. In the right hand portion of Fig. 1, an inclined -filling member, D, of'metal rests upon the upper conductor plate, 0, between the upperclamp bar, C, and the upper clamp bar, C. The thicker portion of the mgrger, D, is at the left, so that the face of the illing member, D, and the lower face of the conductor plate, 0, will converge slightly going from the 'right toward the left. An upper, wedge-form filling member, 1), lies between measei It is now to be observed that the filling members, D, and D make contact with each other over an extended area and that along the entire length of the filling member, D, the cross-sectional area of the conducting material exceeds the cross-sectional area of the conductor plate, C, plus the cross-sectional area of the conductor plates, C the filling member, D, being thicker than the thickness of any of the conductor plates.

When there is such large cross-section, the electrical resistance through the filling members is far lessthan the resistance offered by the supporting bars, B, and elecoperation of the apparatus.

trodes, the pot, and the flexible conducting members, A Hence substantially all of the current will pass through the circuit .filling and thus substantially isolate the adjacent pot from the circuit, even while the flexible conductors, A remain connected; and said pot may now be adjusted, repaired, removed (after detaching the conductors, A and replaced, the current and operation in theother pots being all the while uninterrupted.

When the filling members are to be removed, the member, D is driven toward the right until it is loose. Then it and the member, D, are lifted out.

This, it will be observed, constitutes a sim ple and easily operated means for short-circuiting for the isolation of one of the pots.

Attention is also asked to the fact that the conductor plates, C, C and the flexible conductor members, A", are made only of such length as is needed for the normal operation, and that these conducting members have no portions which are not used.

for carrying current during the normal In other words, there are on the circuit no dead parts which are used only when one of the pots is to be isolated from the circuit. The two filling members,D and D are ordinarily entirely detached and removed from the conductor plates, C and C and they are adapted to be inserted adjacent any one of the pots for the isolation of the latter, the one pair of such filling members being suflicient for successive use on all of a series of such pots.

Furthermore, it is to be observed that the conductors follow a substantially direct course from the pot to the electrode supports of the next pot, there being merely such bending as is necessary for making connections; that the conductors are relatively inclined from the electrode supports backward to the pot, this being due to difference in elevation between said supports and thepot; and that these conductors are approximately or substantially in a single or common or upright plane. Not only does this directness of the course of the conductors save material and space; but it affords economy in construction and, on account of being shorter, reduces electrical resistance. On account of the value of copper, the saving in quantity of copper is an important consideration.

For the purpose of attaining greater sta-. bility, a U-shape hanger, C7, maybe applied to the conductor bars between the two middle electrode bars, B, as shown above the right hand pot in Fig. l, the clamping *plates, C binding the conductor bars, C

and C to each other. When the filling members have been removed, the hanger may merely give support to the three lower conductor plates, C or any insulation material, E, (Fig. 11) may be placed-between the conductor plate, C, and the uppermost of the group of three conductor plates, C in lieu of the filler members, D and D and the clamping plates, C", then drawn toward each other; This insulation material may be extended, as shown in Fig. 11, to cover the group of three conductor plates above the pot and also the left hand member of the left hand bar of laminated conductors, A, as an aid for the prevention of short circuiting between said conductor plates and said laminated member on the one hand and the conductor plates, C, and the adjacenthanger, on the other hand.

A hanger, C is also shown applied to the four conductor plates at the left of the Up and down adjustment may be made on.

the hangers by appropriately shifting the nuts, C Each hanger is supported by a member, F, having at its lower end an eye,

B, through which the hanger extends and which has at its upperv portion a stem, F which penetrates a beam, G. A nut, F surrounds the upper end of said stem and bears down upon said beam. An insulation membelyH, is located between the upper end of the hanger, C, and the lower end of the eye, F whereby said hanger and the member, F, are insulated from each other. The

hanger which embraces the conductorplates and the filling members above the middle of the right hand pot is also to be suitably-insulated from the conductor plates when the filling members, D and D are not in necting one pot with the electrode supports of the next pot and having broad faces approximately paralleling and partially overreaching but spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of said conductors, substantially as described.-

2. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, and conductor members extending in a common upright plane from one pot to the electrode supports of the next pot, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, common conducting means connected with said supports and extending relatively obliquely downward to the last receding pot and flexible conducting means eading from opposite walls of said pot to said common conducting means, said com- 40 mon conducting means and the flexible'conducting means being approximately in a common, upright plane, substantially as de scribed. i

4. In an apparatus of the nature described, .a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, common conducting means comprising a plurality of sheets lying flatwise against each other and connecting with said supports and extending relatively obllquely downward to the last preceding pot, and flexible conducting means leading from .opposite Walls of said pot to said common conducting means, said common conducting means and the flexible conducting means being approximately in a common, upright plane, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the nature de-' scribed, a series of pots, electrodesupports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, common conducting means q connected with said supports and extending relatively obliquely downward to the last preceding pot, flexible conducting means 1 leading from opposite. wallsjof said pot to electrode supports of the next pot and apsaid common conducting means and adjustable supports for said common conducting means, said common conductingmeans and the flexible conducting means being approximately in a common, upright plane, sub- .said common conducting means, and adjustable means for supporting and clamping said common conducting means said common conducting means and the flexible conducting means being approximately in a common, .upright plane, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, a conductor member leading from each of said supports toward the last preceding pot and beneath but spaced from the conductor members of said preceding pot, and means electrically connecting pot, subsaid conductormembers with said stantially as described. 8. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supports i above said pots, a conductor member leading from each of said supports toward the last preceding pot and beneath but spaced from the conductor members of said preceding pot, and flexible means electrically connecting said conductor members with saidpot, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, and electrical conductors composed of a plurality of pieces of'metal placed sideby-side and against each other. and connecting one pot with the electrode supports of the'next pot and approximately paralleling and partially over-reaching but spaced from aportion ofthe conductors leading from the last-mentioned pot to the electrode supports of the next pot. of the series, the main portions of said conductors being stationary and the portionsat the pots being flexible, substantially as. described.

' 10. In an apparatus of the nature, described, a series of pots, a plurality of electrocle supports above each of said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, electri cal conductors connecting one pot, withthe proximately paralleling and extending above and spaced from a portion of thecon leading fromv the last-mentioned pot to the electrode supports of the next pot of the series, and each of said conductors com I g" uctors v r of longitudinal members of a number equaling the number of the electrode supports, and one of each of said members being joined to one of said supports, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus of the nature de-- scribed, a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, sheet-form electrical conductors connecting one pot with the electrode of the next pot and approximately paralleling but spaced from .a portion of the conductors leading from the last-mentioned pot to the electrode supports of the next pot of the series, each of said conductors consisting of longitudinal members of a number according to the number of the electrode supports and one of each of said members being joined to one of said supports, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supporting bars above said pots, electrodes supported by said bars, and a group of electrical conductors composed of sheet-form pieces of metal equal to the number of said supporting bars and placed side-by-side and against each other and one being applied to each of said bars and the opposite end of said conductors being joined electrically to the last preceding pot and the conductors leading from one pot approximately paralleling a portion of the conductors leading from the next potof the series, substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supporting bars above said pots, electrodes supported by said bars, a group of electrical conductors composed of sheet-form pieces of metal equaling in number the number of said supporting bars and placed side-by-side and against each other-wand one being applied to each of said bars, and flexible conductors joined to opposite walls of the pot and to 'said group of sheet-form conductors, substantially as described.

, 14. In an-apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, a plurality of electrode supports above each of said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, electrical conductors connecting one pot with the electrode supports of the next pot and havin broad faces approximately paralleling bu spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of said conductors, and filling means for making direct contact between the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading fr om the next pot of the series, substantially as de scribed.

15. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, a plurality of electrode supports above each of saidpots, electrodes supported by said supports, electricalconductors connecting one pot with the electrode supports of the next pot and having broad faces approximately paralleling but spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of said conductors, filling means for making direct contact between the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from thenext pot of the series, and means for clamping said conductors and said filling means against each other, substantially as described.

1 6. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, a plurality of electrode supports above each of said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, electrical conductors connecting one pot with the electrode supports of the next pot and having broad faces approximately paralleling but spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of said conductors. filling means for making direct c0ntact between the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from the next pot of the series,'and a support with means for clamping said conductors and said filling means against each other, substantially as described.

17. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, a plurality of electrode supports. above each of said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, electrical conductors'connecting one pot with the electrode supports of the next pot and having broad faces approximately paralleling but spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of said conductors, and insulation means between the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from the next pot of the series, substantially as described.

18. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, a plurality of electrode supports above each of said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, electrical conductors connecting one pot with the electrode supports of the next pot and having broad faces approximately paralleling but spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of said conductors, insulation means between-the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from the next pot of the series, and means for clamping said conductors and said insulation means against each other, substantially as described.

19. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series ofpots, a plurality of electrode supports above each of said pots, electrodes supported by said suppo ts, electrical conductors connecting one pot ith the electrode supports of the next pot and having broad faces approximately paralleling but spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of said 0011- ductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from the next pot of the series, and a support with means for clamping said conductors and said insulation means against each other, substantially as described.

20. In 7 anapparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, a plurality of electrode supports above each of said pots, elec-' trodes supported by said supports, common conductipg means connected with said sup ports and extending relatively obliquely downward to the last preceding pot, flexible conducting means leading from opposite walls of said pot to said common'conductin means, said common conductin means and the flexible conducting means bemg approximately in a common, upright plane, and filling means for making direct contact between the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from the next pot of the series, substantially as described.

21. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, common conducting means connected with said supports and extending relatively obliquely downward to the last preceding pot, flexible conducting means leading from opposite walls of said pots to said common conducting means, said common conducting means and the flexible conducting means 'bein approximately in a common, upright pane, filling means for making direct contact between the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from the next pot of the series, and means for clamping said conductors and said filling means against each other, substantially as described.

22. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, common conducting; means connected -with said supports and'extending relatively obliquely downward to the last preceding pot, flexible conducting means leading fromiopposite walls of said pots to said common conducting means, said common conducting means and the flexible conducting means being approximately in a common, upright plane, filling means for mak ing direct contact between the conductors leading from one pot and the conductors leading from the next pot of the series, and a support with means for clamping said conductors and said. filling means against each other, substantially as described.

23. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots having projecting walls, electrode supports above said pots, electrodes supported by said supports, and electrical conductors connecting "the proj ecting portions of the walls of one pot with the electrode supports of the next pot and having broad faces approximately paralleling but spaced from similar faces of the next preceding and the next following of ported by said supporting means, electrical conducting means connecting one pot'with the electrode supporting means of the next pot and approximately paralleling and ex= tending above and spaced from a portion of the conducting means leading from the last mentioned pot to the electrode supporting means of the next pot of the series, substantially as described.

25. In an apparatus of the nature described, a series of pots, electrode support. ing means above each pot, electrodes supported by said supporting means, electrical conducting means connecting one pot with the electrode supporting means of the next. pot and approximately paralleling and extending above and spaced from a portion of the conducting means leading from the lastmentioned 0t to the electrode supporting means of t e next pot of the series, and filling means occupying the space between the conducting means of one pot and the conducting means of the next 'pot of the. series, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, this 31st day of March, in the year one thousandnine hundred and seventeen. 

